Howick Circular Walk

A 9.5km or 6 mile circular trail from Craster, taking in Howick Hall, Cullernose Point and the Northumberland Coast Path. Why not extend your walk to take in the gardens and arboretum at Howick Hall?

Rumbling Kern (© Gavin Duthie)

The Bathing House (© Gavin Duthie)

Essentials

Start at Craster Tourist Information Centre where you can pick up a leaflet for this walk or buy one from here.

The route is mostly flat on good paths, not suitable for wheelchair users. It can be muddy after wet weather. There are a couple of stiles along the way.

It is possible to extend your walk through Howick Gardens along the ‘long walk’ however you must pay to enter the gardens. This route follows the Howick Burn to where it meets the sea, when you reach the sea head north to rejoin the main route at the Bathing House.

Bring your binoculars; there is much to see

When the gardens are open, so is the Earl Grey Tea House, why not call in for a cup of Earl Grey (Only open to garden visitors).

This section is exposed, wear suitable clothing.

Use Ordnance Survey Map 332 Alnwick & Amble

The pretty square of fisherman’s cottages at Low Newton is owned by the National Trust,

The Arnold Memorial Reserve is managed by Northumberland Wildlife Trust. The reserve, an old quarry, is within Craster Heugh - a whinstone outcrop. The secondary scrub and woodland, together with its coastal location makes the reserve particularly important for

both migrant and breeding birds

Route/Description

Arriving in Craster, get off the bus in the village. There are toilets at the Tourist Information Centre and a shop, pub and café in the village. From the Tourist Information Centre, head towards the car park turning left in to Arnold Memorial Northumberland Wildlife Trust Reserve, keep going past the first gate and go through the second gate.

Birdwatching in the reserve © Gavin Duthie

(2) From the gate, head uphill across the field to the gate by the road.

(3) Cross the road and head up the farm track towards the farm, bear left following the

waymark discs along a short grassy lonnen then follow the field edge.

(4) Eventually you will come to two stiles, cross the second one signposted for Howick

and follow the path under the escarpment

(5) Cross the wall at the stile, then cross the field and follow the field edge path through

a gate and alongside a mesh fence until you come to a track. (If you are visiting Howick

Hall or extending your route through the gardens – leave the route here)

(6) Bear right onto the track and follow it to the road.

(7) At the road turn left and walk along the roadside path at the road junction where the

roadside paths ends continue straight ahead, walking on the road, take care here the

road can be busy in summer.

(8) Where the road bears left, continue straight ahead taking the track to the sea

(9)Turn left at the end of the track and follow the coastal path back to Craster

(10) Arriving in Craster follow the path on the seaward side of the children’s play area, in

front of the houses, the path continues through the pub garden (you may wish to end

your walk here!) into the harbour, turn left to go back to the Tourist Information Centre.

The Northumberland and Berwickshire coast is a wonderful area to visit with lots to learn and enjoy. ‘Our Coast Our Sea’ aims to make it even better, offering inspiring ideas for your visit and helping you discover providers of

exciting activities for adults and children.

Route Map

Use Ordnance Survey

Explorer map number

332 – Alnwick and

Amble

Howick Gardens © Gavin Duthie

Stormy seas at the Bathing House

©Gavin Duthie

Bus Information Outward to Craster

From Newcastle, Alnwick and Morpeth 501 Coast and Castles Connection, a two-hourly service from Newcastle, Morpeth and Alnwick. A Travelsure 401 also connects Alnwick with Craster. From Berwick-upon-Tweed and Seahouses

501 Coast and Castles Connection, a two-hourly service from Berwick-upon-Tweed to Newcastle Haymarket Bus Station. From Ashington and Blyth From Ashington use the 35 to connect with the 501 in Morpeth. From Blyth use the 2 to connect with the 501 in Morpeth. Return from Craster

To Newcastle, Alnwick and Morpeth (change at Morpeth for Ashington and Blyth) 501 Coast and Castles Connection, a two-hourly service from Berwick-upon-Tweed to Newcastle Haymarket Bus Station via Alnwick and Morpeth. Travelsure 401 also connects Craster with Alnwick. To Berwick-upon-Tweed

501 Coast and Castles Connection, a two-hourly service from Newcastle Haymarket Bus Station to Berwick-upon-Tweed. Sunday Service There is a limited Sunday service which may make this itinerary unsuitable on Sundays.

Times

You should allow two to three hours for your walk, longer if you choose to visit Howick Hall Gardens or have dip in the sea.

Plan Your Journey

Which Ticket is best for me?

for services north of Alnwick on Arriva and Travelsure buses: North Northumberland Discover (Day ticket) £5.50 North Northumberland Passport (weekly ticket) £18.00 Arriva Day Ticket - travel all day for £6.50 Arriva Family Day ticket, two adults and up to three children £12 NE Explorer – All day with any operator in NE £8.00 NE Family Explorer £16.00

Food and drink

Craster has a café and pub that serve food; there is also a small shop to stock up on supplies. The Earl Grey Teahouse in Howick Hall serve a variety of teas, home made and local produce, snacks and light lunches, sometimes on a self-service basis. The Earl Grey Tea House is open whenever the gardens are open, but exclusively for visitors to the garden. It is NOT open to other members of the public.

Further Information

Craster – Our Coast Our Sea

Craster Community Website

Arriva

Northumberland Coast AONB

Visit Northumberland

Howick Hall Gardens

Northumberland Wildlife Trust

North Sea Trail

Craster Kippers

Traveline NE

There is a traditional smokehouse in Craster, L Robson &

Sons, producers of the legendary Craster Kipper. Here you

can purchase a range of specially selected, finest quality

seafood, and also find out why this unique family business

has been producing some of the world's finest smoked

salmon and kippers for almost 100 years.

This Itinerary has been prepared by the Northumberland Coast AONB Partnership. If you have any

suggestions or comments regarding the itinerary or bus travel on the Northumberland Coast please call us

on 01665 511206 or email: CoastAONB@northumberland.gov.uk .

Although the information provided in this itinerary is currently correct services may be subject to change and the Northumberland Coast AONB Partnership or Arriva cannot be held responsible for any inaccuracies We recommend that you check the bus and opening times of attractions before travel.

Earl Grey Teahouse © Howick Estate